WATER WHEN YOU NEED IT A Plan to Secure a Reliable Regional Water Supply

Community Forum July 30, 2009

4/24/2020

Foothill Municipal Water District: Who We Are, What We Do

2

4/24/2020

Serving Supplemental Water to the Foothill Region

3

We are “The People Behind Your Water Supply”

• • • Foothill purchases imported potable water from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Brings it into the foothill area Pumps it through a single pipeline that branches out to serve the eight retail water agencies.

4/24/2020 4

4/24/2020

Area’s Growing Dependence on Imported Water

• • Historically, groundwater was the primary water supply for the region Over time, the dependence on imported water has increased 5

1950s-Era Water System

• • Foothill’s facilities–pipelines, reservoirs, pump stations, controls, valves, must work flawlessly every day, around the clock • The majority of these facilities were built decades ago, most in the 1950s Many are reaching the end of their reliable service life 4/24/2020 6

Situation Overview

• Critical need to renovate and fix wholesale water system • Develop new reliable local water supplies • Share costs fairly among agencies and individual property owners • Obtain public input • Refine plan if needed and implement. Don’t wait for emergencies.

4/24/2020 7

A Vital Program Is Proposed Purpose: a program to assure an adequate and reliable water supply for the foothill region

1.

Rehabilitate our aging water system 2. Increase area’s water independence 3. Spread the program costs fairly 8

4/24/2020

1. Rehabilitate Our Aging Water System

: Old, Worn Infrastructure Must Be Upgraded or Replaced

9

•

Threats to Water Facilities

Up to 60% of the region’s water supply could be suddenly cut off by an earthquake or emergency.

• Repairs could take days or weeks and be costly.

4/24/2020 10

4/24/2020

Imagine This Happening Here….

11

Required System Improvements

• • • • • Backup generators can no longer provide adequate emergency power.

Pipelines must have condition evaluated, and where necessary, be repaired or replaced.

Pumps and other components must be rehabilitated. Electronic monitoring and control systems are obsolete and need replacement.

Storage is needed to meet needs during emergencies and shutdowns.

4/24/2020 12

Plan for Infrastructure Upgrade

• • • • Weak spots in the water system have been identified Engineering work is underway Upgraded system provides greater reliability, reduced threat of supply cutoff, fewer costly emergency repairs Infrastructure plan calls for a four or five year construction program to begin in 2010 13

2. Increase Water Independence

Finding New and More Reliable Water Resources

14

4/24/2020

Three Pronged Hit to Imported Supplies

• • First--a statewide drought Second--legal restrictions on pumping of imported water from Northern California Delta • Third--increased demand from a growing population. So Cal shortage may grow to the amount needed by 3 million households for a year.

15

Cutback Implemented

• Foothill buys its imported water from Metropolitan Water District (MWD) – MWD imposed mandatory cutback this summer • Governor requests the 20% cutback to become permanent by 2020 • Water supply shortages vary, but may be semi-permanent 4/24/2020 16

Imported Water Costs Rising Metropolitan Water District approves 19.7 percent rate increase, will cut deliveries 10 percent

4/24/2020

Message to imported water users: Use Less and Pay More

17

Seeking New Local Water Resources

• • • Foothill area is heavily dependent on imported water supplies But imported supplies are increasingly limited and costly New, local, reliable supplies must be found to increase area’s water independence: – Recycled water – Stormwater 18

4/24/2020

Recycled Water: A Reliable New Resource

A drought proof, local supplemental supply

19

Recycled Water Program Initiated

• FMWD is developing recycled water in its service area over three phases: – one near the Arroyo – one towards the west side of the service area – and the other towards the eastside • For irrigation of large landscapes and recharging groundwater basins. 4/24/2020 20

Ideal for Irrigation

– Recycled water is created in the same way nature recycles water only faster: undergoing filtration, disinfection, etc.

– Reliable and available, even in a drought – Used for landscapes and groundwater recharge – Lower cost than other new water resources • • •

Used in: Glendale Burbank La Canada Country Club

21

Stormwater: Another Local Supply

• • • Stormwater cascades down through local canyons following storms Some is diverted, captured, and percolated into the groundwater for later use District seeking ways to expand use of this local resource – For recharge – And to blend with recycled water for recharge 22

Water Efficiency: Another Local “Resource”

• • • People associate water conservation with deprivation Water efficiency means maximizing the benefits of water: so less water provides the same benefits District investing $50,000 this year from regular budget for conservation 23

Conservation Tip: Focus Outdoors

Fix Broken Sprinkler Heads Re-aim Sprinklers Install efficient rotating sprinklers Limit watering to two days a week 24

Reduce Lawn Size Use Beautiful Native Plants

25

25

Use a Shut off Nozzle

26

4/24/2020

Take Advantage of Resources

For Information and Rebates go to 27

3. Spreading the Program Costs Fairly

Developing the Funding Plan Developing program costs

– Infrastructure: about $7 million to upgrade the water system – New Local Water Supplies: about $13 million to initiate first project. – Seeking federal and state grants to cover additional recycled water costs 4/24/2020 29

Raising the Revenue

Bond financing spreads cost over many years. Current and future customers pay their fair share – Repay bond with: Parcel charge OR Water charges 30

If Assessment for System Repair

1. Costs allocated by water retailer based on usage of each facility being improved 2. Costs are further divided based on average use of Foothill water over last ten years 3. Finally a charge per acre is developed for each water retailer: Each parcel is allocated its charge based on its size and what service area it is in 4/24/2020 31

If Assessment for New Water Supply

1. Each acre-foot of new water makes an acre-foot of imported water available to the entire area. Therefore All benefit equally from new water supplies. 2. Costs allocated to each member based on long term water demand 3. Each parcel is charged based on its land use, size and average water use per acre for its area.

4/24/2020 32

If Increased Water Charge

1. For system repair, costs to retail agency allocated based on water use and use of facilities 2. For new supplies, costs based on long term water demand 3. Then local retail agency charges its customers through normal water rates 4/24/2020 33

Outreach Plan at a Glance

• Direct mail (newsletters) • • • • • Special section of website: www.fmwd.com

Press coverage Presentations to community groups E-news and mailed news to identified stakeholders and interested parties Meetings with stakeholders 4/24/2020 34

Summary

• Critical need to renovate and fix wholesale water system • Develop new reliable local water supplies • Share costs fairly among agencies and individual property owners • Obtain public input • Refine plan if needed and implement. Don’t wait for emergencies.

4/24/2020 35

What’s Next

SUMMER: Continue outreach and gather public input LATE SUMMER: Refine Plans EARLY FALL: Board decision on how to proceed End of YEAR: Begin implementing 4/24/2020 Glenn M Reiter & Associates 36

Questions

37